Testicular Cancer Detection

Testicular cancer detection is the first and foremost step to proper cure of cancerous development in the testicular areas. Testicular cancer diagnosis is also important because it may help the patient to opt the most suitable and safe treatment depending upon his health conditions and sustainability to the intensity of treatments.

Concept and Significance of Testicular Cancer Detection

Testicular cancer diagnosis deals with the methods and techniques available to confirm the presence of lumps or polyps in the testicular areas and decide whether they are cancerous or non-cancerous. Both benign and malignant or cancerous tumors appear almost similar in size and shape. It is very difficult to judge their nature by having a general look. Many a times, such tumors may not be even detected while undergoing normal medical tests or examinations.

Specialized detection techniques need to be used to trace and examine such tumors. The abnormal cells that develop in the testicular areas may have almost the same appearance as the normal ones. Thus, sorting the malignant cells from the normal ones becomes very difficult. Other health complications like AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and vital infections like Human Papillomavirus (HPV) may worsen the case and create obstacles in the diagnosis course.

Detection plays an important role in tackling such non-cancerous health complications and deciding whether a person should undergo cancer treatment. Treatments for cancer can be quite harsh if the tumors are detected in the late stages. Also, most of the cancer-deaths related to testicular cancer occur due to delayed detection and diagnosis of tumors.

Testicular cancer is more common in white people belonging to the Caucasian race as compared to black people. Hence, the disease is more common in European and North American regions and occurs in comparatively less amounts in Africa and Asia. People who fall within the age group of 20-40 years are highly prone to the disease. Detection helps in early cure of the malignant growth and prevents further health complications.

Cell abnormality in the testicles develops in a phased manner and gives some early indications of the chances of malignant growth. Detection of such signs may be very useful to undergo preventive treatment for testicular cancer and get rid of the abnormal cells before they get cancerous and develop a tendency to metastasize.

Important Testicular Cancer Detection Methods

Computed Tomography (CT) scan is the most basic and widely used detection method to trace for abnormal cell-growth in the testicular areas. It helps to identify the location and size of tumors and the treatment is recommended accordingly.

Biopsy is another general method to do a thorough examination of the whole body including the testicular areas so that the intensity of polyps is understood properly.

Ultrasound is a type of diagnosis method in which a sonogram is obtained by passage of sound waves in the testicular areas. This gives
a clear picture of the tumor growth and helps to identify its origin.

Scrotal Ultrasound is a form of diagnosis technique in which a picture of the internal areas of scrotum are taken to confirm the presence of lumps or solid mass.

Blood tests are also vital to trace tumor-growth. Some tests like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) should be undergone under proper supervision by cancer experts. These tests help to track the intensity of tumors.

Chest X-ray is important in the cases where the tumors have metastasized to lungs and other adjacent areas.

Abdominal Scanning can also be fruitful if a person experiences severe pains in the abdomen or lower stomach areas.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan can also be advantageous depending upon their feasibility of tracing tumors.

Orchiectomy is a surgical method to detect presence of malignant tumors or polyps in the testicles. The technique is also known as radical inguinal orchiectomy. In this process, the entire testicle is removed and examined for cancerous development.

Testicular cancer detection can be more effective and reliable if variations like age, personal background of testicular or other forms of cancer, family history of cancer, previous cancer treatments and lifestyle patterns are taken into due consideration. Testicular cancer can be hereditary and may pass from one generation to another. Genetic disorders may also lead to occurrence of cancerous cells in the testicles. Thus, a thorough diagnosis patter should be followed to find out the root cause of cancer development in the testicles.